SARNIA, ON — Fans at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday evening were treated to eight outstanding races by the top two-year-olds in the Grassroots program, including a pair of record setting miles.
Trotting filly Whispering Girl kicked off the record setting trend with a 1:59.2 romp in the second Grassroots Semifinal, taking control of the race before the halfway marker and cruising home six lengths ahead of the competition. The outstanding effort equalled the time clocked by the three-year-old trotting fillies in their Semifinal at Georgian Downs last weekend.
Harald Lunde trains Whispering Girl for Tommy Andersson of Gotene, Sweden and Bjarte Torresdal piloted the Angus Hall daughter to the victory, improving her record to two wins, one second and one third in six starts. Whispering Girl was a late addition to the Grassroots ranks, making just two starts in the program after trying her hand in three Gold Series Eliminations.
CS I Ama Star, Windsong Bethany and Allraes Super Girl also advanced to next Saturday’s $100,000 Final, while fan favourite and division leader Taylorlane Bliss took herself out of the running with an early break in stride.
The other trotting filly Semifinal went to favourites Soxy Kosmos and Trevor Ritchie, who clocked an equally impressive 1:59.3 win from off the pace for trainer Christopher Beaver of Delaware, OH and his partners David Lang of Hilliard, OH, Barry Carter of Lancaster, OH and Four Starzzzz Stable LLC. of Glenwood, NJ. Playfull Image, Draven and Emme Emme rounded out the top four in the $30,000 elimination round.
Trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie also piloted EL Leonard to a track record equalling effort in the second trotting colt Semifinal. The pair sat second through the early going and then powered up the outside heading for the three-quarters. After battling around the last turn the fan favourites finally took command heading down the stretch and pulled away to a two length victory over Armbro Cameron, Reception Hall and Kenny Boy.
Georgetown resident Erkki Laakkonen bred and owns EL Leonard and Gary Bourgon trains the Sugarcane Leonard son, who posted a record of three wins and one second through four regular season Grassroots starts.
Regular season point leader Elaborateobsession settled for third in the opening Semifinal as Northern Patriot delivered an impressive come from behind effort to snatch the 2:02.3 victory away from pacesetter Zorgwijk Fortunate. Mike Keeling trains Yankee Paco son Northern Patriot, who is owned by P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc. of Cambridge and Charles Armstrong of Brampton, and was driven to victory by Jim McClure.
Fourth-place finisher King Brent also earned an invite to the Championship round from Race 2.
The only division leader to capture a Semifinal was pacing filly Borderlinegorgious, who demonstrated her versatility with a come from behind effort in Race 5. “Mr. OSS” Dave Wall drove the filly to the 1:56.4 score over Northern Jade, with Fannies Fortune and Helena Handbag duking it out for third and fourth five lengths to the rear.
Dean Wall trains Rambaran daughter Borderlinegorgious for his parents’ Wall Tyme Stables Inc. of Komoka. The win was the filly’s third straight and her sixth of the season, which has seen her earn just over $83,000 in 14 starts.
Natural Luck claimed the other pacing filly Semifinal in an indentical 1:56.4 clocking and using similar stalking tactics. The Northern Luck daughter bested Fabulous Flori, favourite Witness To Fame and Devils Delight with the victory, her third of the season.
Veteran reinsman Reg Gassien engineered the win for trainer John Burns and owners Joe Thomson of Phoenixville, PA and Joann Thomson of Chesapeake, MA. The hotly contested pacing colt Semifinals went to fan favourites and former nursery mates Armbro Cougar and Armbro Cabot.
Island Fantasy son Armbro Cougar and Doug Brown opted for front end tactics to secure their 1:54.4 score for trainer Richard Webb and owner Paul Jackson of Bobcaygeon, while Ray McLean, Jr. and Armbro Cabot clawed their way to the 1:55.4 win from the rear of the field.
Armbro Cabot is trained by Tom Durand for Ronald MacArthur of Capital Heights, MD and Richard Smith of Falls Church, VA. Thursday’s win was the Armbro Operative son’s fifth of the season.
Little Sprout, regular season point leader The Thief and Moments Like That also advanced to the Championship round out of Race 8, while Windsun Fire N Ice, Apache Rain Dance and Twin B Krave picked up the other three spots with their second, third and fourth-place finishes in Race 11.
The top four finishers from each Semifinal will return to Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, Nov. 6 to compete in their respective $100,000 Grassroots Championship.